The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-10
TO HUNT FILLIBUSTERS.
HONDURAS CONSUL GENERAL
THINKS THEY ARE HERE.

Central American Republic
tary Bayard Asks the Governor to
Look Into the Matter-The Spanish
Consul ghinks They Are After Cuba.
Information was received by the MORN
ING NEWS yesterday from Atlanta that the
State Executive Department has been no.
titled that fihbustering expedition is being
fitted out in this city for an attack on Hon
duras The first intimation of such a rumor
was communicated to Gov. Gordon in let
ter from Secretary Bayard, inclosing
a communication from the Consul General
of Honduras at New York, stating that he
had been advised by his government that a
hostile movement is being organized here,
and asking that measures be taken to pre-
vent its consunmation.
AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
The custom house officials were inter-
viewed, but they have received no informa-
ton from the department at Washington,
the report. Collector Wheaton re
ceived yesterday morning a letter
from the Spanish Consul, advising him that
the Spanish authorities have reason to be-
leve that an expedition is being fitted out
somewhere in this vicinity to invade Cuba,
and intimated that its object is to destroy
the sugar plantations, the sugar cane at this
season of the year being in condition to
burn readily. Coming from such a source,
the Collector Immediately notified the vari-
Gus customs officers to be on the lookout for
any suspicious vessel that may arrive i'll
port and to communicate with him at
once.
AN INVASION OF CUBA.
The information received by the Customs
Department indicates that the objective
point of the fllibusterers, if such move
ment is being planned, is not Honduras, but
Cuba. The revenue cutter Boutwell,, which
came off the ways day or two ago.
has started out to cruise among
the bays and inlets along the Georgia and
South Carolina coast for the purpose of in
tercepting any suspicious vessel that may
be preparing for sea. In spite of the mea-
sures which the department has taken the
customs officials place no credence in the
rumor.
The Spanish Consul was interviewed and
was shown telegram giving the substance
of the correspondence between the Consul
General of Honduras and Secretary Bayard,
and he denied having any knowledge of
such an expedition as is reported to be
planning here. The Spanish authorities are
very reticent in regard to the matter.
SECRETARY BAYARD's LETTER.
Secretary Bayard's letter to the State
Executive Department is as follows;
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, June z, 1887.
To the Hon John B. Gordon Governor of the
State of Georgia, atlanta, Ca
have the honor to bring to your attention,
with view Of the adoption of such measures as
may be found necessary to prevent a violation
of our neutrality laws the enclosed copy of o
letter from Mr.. Jacob Baiz, Consul General of
Honduras at New York dated June A. relative
TO a projected hostile expedition understood to
be fitting out at Savannah, Ga, against the Re
public of Honduras. ! have the honor to be,
sir, your obedient servant,
TFBAYARD.
CONSUL GENERAL BAIz' LETTER,
Consul General Baiz' letter was as follows:
CoNsULADo GENERAL,
DEHoNDURAs, EN- LOS EsTADos DE AMERICA,
NEW YORK, June 4, 1887.
Hon. Thomas f. Bdydrd, Secretary of State,
WASHINGTON, d. c.:
STR-I have the honor of addressing you at the
present for the purpose of bringing to your no
tice that have received advices from my gov
eminent relative to a projected hostile expedi-
to start from Savannah, Ga, against
the republic of Honduras. In the absence of
any positive information, would request your
honor to communicate the foregoing to the
proper authorities at Savannah that they may
prevent any hostile acts against Honduras;
and, anticipating my thanks in the name of my
government, have the honor to remain yours
very respectfully, JACOB BAIz,
Consul General,
THE GOVERNOR ACTS.
This startling sensation soon worked its
way outside the capital, and was telegTaphed
through the State. 1t was doubted if the
Governor could take any steps in matter
purely International, but that was waived,
as the question had evidently been can
vassed in the red-tape bureau of the State
Department, and had been formally re-
ferrad To fba NTH x,ax 20
vent any violation of the neutrality laws.
An Atlanta special to the MORNING News
last night stated that the Governor is rather
incredulous about the existence of such a
movement, as it could hardly have been
conducted in Savannah with such secrecy as
to prevent its discovery, or at least suspi-
cion. He felt it to be his duty, however, to
use such discretion as is given by the constitu-
ton and indicated by Secretary Bayard
He has advised the State Department that
he will take immediate steps to investigate
the rumor and find out what truth there is
in it.
THE MAYOR TO INVESTIGATE.
Mayor Lester received a telegram last
night from the Executive Department re-
questing that he adopt immediate measures
looking to careful and thorough inyesti-
CATION OF the rumor, and if such move
ment as is indicated in the correspondence
of the Consul General of Honduras is in
progress to report its complexion and plans
SO that proper action may be taken The
Governor stated that if the report has any
foundation he will, as at present advised,
use the power of the State TO prevent any
unlawful assemblage looking to the organ
izing and equipment of such a movement.
WHAT THE RIVER MEN SAY.
The general impression is that the rumor
is wholly without foundation. The towboat
men and pilots say that while the organ
izing of such an expedition elsewhere along
the coast is possible it is impossible here.
Capt. Smith, of the Tow Boat Company,
was asked If any suspicious vessels are in
the harbor, or If he knew of any organiza-
ton of men being formed here. why, nor
said the Captain. 81 don't know of a single
vessel in these waters but what is all right
There are very few anyway, just now, but
those here can all be accounted for.n
Capt. Reilly, of the barge office, was
asked about the lImor. "a suspicious YES
sci, did you say" was his reply when the
matter was explained more fully. There
are none here that / know Of Only two
foreign vessels have been reported since the
MORNING NEWS last list. No, | don't be-
lieve there is anything in it. All vessels
here have proper papers and are all right,
so far as have seen"
Harhor Master Kennedy said that he can
urgDunt for aNprv VoScal in mort